How World War I Changed the Course of American Zionism

Earlier this week, Mosaic’s senior editor Andrew Koss spoke with Allan Arkush, the author of our November essay, about the early days of American Zionism, the subject of his piece. Read the transcript of their discussion below.

Andrew Koss:

We’re here today to talk about Allan Arkush’s wonderful essay about the American Zionist movement and how it was invigorated by World War I, and the impact that that invigoration had on the origins of the Balfour Declaration. Before we delve into that essay, I’d like to take a step back and ask you about the larger project you’re currently working on about the Jews and the First World War in general. Tell us a little bit about that, and about how you got into the subject in the first place.